It would have trapped people in permanent underclass status. unwilling to move into the mainstream of society. These policies. which were included in the Housepassed bill and supported there by congressional Republicans. understandably sparked nationwide protests. They were viewed as antiimmigrant and inconsistent with American values and history. American values that attracted my grandparents to come here from Italy to settle in Vermont or my great grandparents to come from Ireland and do the same. The committee bill was tough on enforcement and very properly so tough on the smugglers. It is smarter and fairer. Finally. I thank the chairman for setting aside provisions in the mark that would have consolidated all immigration appeals from around the Nation into the jurisdiction of the Federal circuit. the court of appeals for the Federal circuit. That is a court we have wisely set up in recent years in Washington because it has specialized jurisdiction. It was created to hear patent appeals and cases involving technical intellectual property issues. those issues which have so much to do with the economy of our country. It was not set up to hear immigration appeals. In fact. the Judicial Conference. chaired by now Chief Justice John Roberts and Federal judges from across the country. expressed serious concerns with these proposals. The chairman did the right thing when he agreed to hold a hearing and further consider what provisions will best correct the problems created by former Attorney General Ashcrofts illconceived actions with respect to these matters in cutting down the number of people who could handle such matters.
Keywords matched
antiimmigrant immigration